<Begin Segment 50>

TI: So we're in the second day of the interview with Roy Matsumoto. At this point Tom Ikeda, I'm the primary interviewer and Alice Ito is still joining me, and Dana Hoshide is still on camera. And just a brief review, so yesterday, Roy, we asked you about your early life in the United States growing up. We asked you questions about growing up in Japan. Then we asked you questions after you came back from Japan and went to high school in the United States, the time period working after high school. Then there was the breakout of the war at which point you were then removed to Santa Anita and then to Jerome. And yesterday where we ended up was you, at that point, had volunteered to join the army. And you were recruited for your Japanese skills. I just wanted to ask you a little bit about -- and this might be a slight overlap from yesterday -- but, how did you feel at that point as you were leaving Jerome, Arkansas, about joining the army? Just talk about that a little bit.

RM: Well, when the recruiting officer come around, the announcement, that announced that, announcement was, I think put 'em on the bulletin board. And so at that time, well, here is a chance to get out of camp, so I thought. Then, well, they call into office and interview me just briefly but probably they already knew me. I had a education Japan, that there my primary objective is to recruit soldier who'd be used as an interpreter or translator or the interrogator so they looking for primary there, people who understand Japanese and especially the people that had a education that had a education in Japan so they don't have to train so much, the people don't know anything about it so, since they knew I was a graduate of a Japanese school so they didn't ask much question, just have to take a physical and that's it. But a lotta other people, they're struggling to get in, so they have to take a test and question and everything else. To me, it was easy street. So, more or less I say I'm glad because my intention was get out of camp any way I could, except escaping. My, well, I was so glad so I didn't know where I'm goin' but anyway at least I would be able to get out that dump, so to speak.

TI: So, one thing that you mentioned yesterday was how there was some controversy about some of the men volunteering into the service and they needed to, in some ways, I think you said sneak out of camp. Why do you think that was? I mean, what were some of the incidents that you could remember, was it name calling, or what was it like?

RM: Well, some rumor, then if it's notice that, then they're talkin', not directly to me but generally more or less showing their desire that, hope that don't volunteer to join. There's some Kibeis and some Isseis. But I made up my mind that I first wanna get out but, at that time, I just get out of this joint. But, of course, later on I changed my mind, but anyway, but there were several other people also join, decided to enlist.

TI: I'm sorry, you said you changed your mind, what do you mean?

RM: Well, the purpose was at first didn't think about loyalty to the United States or die for the country but primary and I thought it was get out that place and I was so mad being incarcerated so I joined, but as soon as I joined, now I'm in the service and served my country so I decided to do my best to do my duty.

TI: Okay, good.

<End Segment 50> - Copyright © 2003 Densho. All Rights Reserved.